MODEX 2026 set the stage for what is next in supply chain operations. Held from April 13 to 16 in Atlanta, Georgia, MODEX brought together thousands of manufacturing and supply chain professionals from across the country. The event included more than 1,000 exhibits, with a focus on hands-on demonstrations, education, and face-to-face connections. As the largest manufacturing and supply chain event in 2026, MODEX delivered a front-row view of supply chain automation trends and logistics technology innovations that are shaping the future of intralogistics.
What Was Showcased at MODEX 2026
Three full halls of the Georgia World Congress Center were filled with vendors, showcasing their products. MODEX delivered a comprehensive look at logistics technology innovations shaping distribution and fulfillment operations. Attendees explored everything from automated material handling systems and intralogistics solutions to emerging warehouse technologies.
MODEX’s unique format invites supply chain leaders to see technology in action, evaluate real-world applications, and speak directly with company officials.
Warehouse Automation Trends Driving the Conversation
A dominant theme throughout MODEX 2026 was the continued focus on automation. Carolina Handling National Account Manager Brandon Root, who has been a Carolina Handling associate for 10 years and was attending his fifth MODEX, said the industry’s automation emphasis has continued to grow over time.
“Something that we've seen increase at every MODEX, at least that I've been to, and certainly, for this one, is the level of automation focus. Pretty much every exhibitor that's here, I would wager, probably 80 or 90 percent, has something that either touches or is directly automation-related. And that’s because that's the biggest need that most customers are looking to fill. They’re looking for something that automation can help solve, whether it's labor challenges or efficiency gains, that is what everyone is looking at, because that's the focus right now of the industry.”
Root said these supply chain automation trends are being driven by practical, problem-solving conversations. Root said many decision-makers walking the floor are looking for solutions that can deliver measurable improvements without losing sight of the human side of operations.
“I think that most of the visitors and folks walking the floor are looking to solve specific problems. If you were to take a poll, a lot of those problems fall into three major buckets: we need to be more efficient, we need to spend less on labor, and we need to find some kind of way to have cost savings. Not necessarily replacing people, but having associates perform more value-add tasks versus menial tasks such as bringing stuff from A to B and sorting things. The associate probably doesn’t want to do it, and they need that person to go do something that's more advanced and not something that a robot can do.”
How MODEX Has Changed, and What That Signals for Intralogistics
Root also reflected on how MODEX has evolved, and how that shift mirrors the broader transformation taking place in material handling solutions and warehouse technology integration.
“Previously the focus was much more on forklifts, racking, batteries, and other types of attachments or things that went on the heavy equipment. There was a little bit of automation here and there, but nowhere near what it is now. Now we see conveyor, AMRs, AGVs, different system side solutions, whether it's WCS, WMS, CMMS, and, all manner of robots, from a humanoid robot walking around, picking up coffee off of a desk, to an AMR, bringing a pallet from point A to point B, and dropping it off at a station. It's really cool to see how it advanced some of the technology is getting now,” Root said.
Packsize CVP Impack and the Value of Strategic Partnerships
One example of automation showcased at MODEX 2026 was the Packsize CVP Impack, which measures, constructs, tapes, weighs, and labels each order. People who visited the Packsize booth at MODEX were able to see the CVP Impack in action as it boxed everything from a stack of books to beach buckets.
“It's a box-last solution, meaning that we bring the product over to the machine and box around it,” said Jesse Poole, Partner Sales Director for Packsize.
Poole said that with two operators, the system can box up to 500 orders per hour.
“It will right-size anything from a yo-yo up to a suitcase on the same machine,” Poole said. Poole said the CVP Impack helps to reduce the size of the box and increase throughput.
“It can take anywhere from 10 to 15 packers out of the equation, reallocating those people. So, there are cost savings both from corrugated shipping as well as labor savings.”
Packsize and Carolina Handling have recently partnered to install the CVP Impack at a customer site in North Carolina. This collaboration highlights how strategic partnerships help deliver turnkey solutions.
“Carolina Handling has been great,” Poole said. “They have an all-star team that understands the product, understands the solution, and understands what customer it fits for.”
Poole also said the face-to-face interactions with partners at MODEX are tremendously valuable.
“Carolina Handling is one of our Tier 1 Partners. It’s super exciting to get together with your partners, to be able to showcase your solution, but also to be able to meet with all your partners, all the people you've seen on Zoom over the last year, and just to build that relationship,” Poole said.
Destuff-it 2.0 and Emerging Warehouse Technologies
Another innovation drawing attention at MODEX 2026 was Destuff-it 2.0, a portable conveyor system that focuses on improving productivity, ergonomics, and the user experience. Destuff-it 2.0 represents the first full redesign of the Destuff-it product line since its original launch over 15 years ago.
“MODEX was really the perfect opportunity to showcase it. The first Destuff-it was deployed in 2009, so a little over 15 years ago. We’ve done product iterations since then, but this is really the first full redesign that we've ever done. So it's a really exciting product launch for us. There's a ton of things we've improved, really leveraging those years of experience from the field and channeling it into one product design,” said Gorbel Product Marketing Manager Stefan Friedrich.
“Seeing is believing,” Friedrich said. “Letting people get their hands on the system and see it in action has tremendous value.”
Friedrich said demonstrating the changes to Carolina Handling partners at MODEX has been impactful in strengthening partner alignment.
“Carolina Handling is a very key, solid partner for us. They have their own Destuff-it system to demo and bring to customer sites to do testing with, and that's really valuable because a lot of customers need to see it in their own warehouse and test it within their own space,” Friedrich said.
The Importance of Face-to-Face Collaboration at MODEX
Across interviews and conversations, the value of in-person engagement was clear. MODEX enables warehouse technology partners, integrators, and customers to move beyond videos and virtual meetings. Root emphasized that this is one of the most important advantages of the show, especially as organizations evaluate new automation investments.
“This is kind of like our Super Bowl. Seeing is believing with a lot of these technologies. It’s one thing to talk about it on a Teams call, but to actually see it in person, be able to touch it, feel it, ask questions with the engineers that are right there, and then have those conversations, it really helps drive business forward. It just builds confidence in the customer's eyes because they are actually able to, from a tactile point of view, understand exactly how this might fit into their operation,” Root said.
Lessons from MODEX 2026 for Supply Chain Leaders
Insights from supply chain leaders at MODEX 2026 point to a future defined by integration, partnerships, and long-term planning. Automation is no longer just about equipment. It is about aligning technology, consulting, and execution.
For organizations evaluating how to improve warehouse efficiency, MODEX reinforced the importance of working with experienced material handling system integrators and trusted warehouse technology partners. The most effective strategies connect the right technologies to the right workflows.
To learn how Carolina Handling solutions can support your optimization goals, talk to a Carolina Handling expert and start planning your next step toward a more efficient operation.